New research has shown that cancer will overtake cardiovascular disease as the most fatal disease across the world in 2010.

The report from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is asking governments to take action and to help fund cancer research projects and prevention, as cancer numbers had doubled between 1975 and 2000 and are set to almost triple by 2030.

A report by online journal BMC Cancer has said that children who eat cured meat like bacon, ham and sausages on a regular basis may be at more risk of developing leukaemia.

Foods such as bacon, ham and hot-dogs can increase leukaemia risk, while vegetables and soy may help to reduce risks of cancer.

A study of over 500 children and teenagers (with and without leukaemia) was carried out in Taiwan, and the results showed that those who regularly ate cured meats and fish had a 74% greater chance of developing leukaemia.

Women with a history of gestational diabetes may be at a greater risk of developing pancreatic cancer later in life, Dr. Mary C. Perrin and colleagues write in their report. To investigate possible correlation between gestational diabetes and pancreatic cancer, the research team looked at data of more than 37,000 Israeli mothers who gave birth between 1964 and 1976.

A study published in October 2007 issue of JAMA suggests that western style diet significantly affects recurrence and survival rates after stage III colon cancer treatment.

A previous study, which was conducted on women, showed that a western style diet high in fat and low in fibre increases the risk for colon cancer by as much as 46% compared to those, who adhere to a more prudent diet. Prudent diet (high-fibre and healthy protein diet) was associated with reduced risk for colon cancer.

Exercise is beneficial for our health in many ways. The obvious one is maintaining optimal body weight and improving the functioning of our cardiovascular system, but exercise was also shown to reduce the risk for postmenopausal breast cancer and according to the newest study, physical activity in adolescence and early adulthood may also reduce the chances for premenopausal breast cancer by as much as 23%.

Based on the results of two separate studies, raising vitamin D levels may prevent up to half of all breast and two thirds of colorectal cancer cases. The researchers recommend a daily intake of 2000 IU of vitamin D3 and, when possible, moderate sun exposure.

Inadequate photosynthesis or oral intake of vitamin D is associated with high incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer.

Francesca Bravi, ScD, from the Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri in Milan, Italy, led a team of investigators who evaluated published studies on the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) which included quantitative information on coffee consumption. They concluded that overall relative risk for coffee drinkers vs nondrinkers was 0.59 (95% CI, 0.49 - 0.72) and the overall relative risk for an increase in 1 cup of coffee per day was 0.77 (95% CI, 0.72 - 0.82).